Bubble pipe toy

ABSTRACT

A bubble pipe toy for blowing bubbles. The bubble pipe is in the form of a tubular pipe having an upstanding chimney over which a ring element in the form of an L-shaped wand is fitted. The wand may be integrally formed on the pipe or in a preferred form has a square end receivable within a socket having a square opening to provide registry of the ring over the chimney. The pipe further receives toy figurines, such as in the shape of a locomotive or other toy, which is snapped or molded directly on the tubular pipe with the chimney fitting through the toy. The pipe is simply employed by dipping the ring element of the wand into a soapy solution and blowing through the pipe with air expelled through the chimney and forming bubbles from a soapy film over the ring element.

United States Patent Starr [541 BUBBLE PIPE TOY Irving Starr, 28 BullittPark Place, Columbus, Ohio 43209 22 Filed: Dec.1l, 1970 21 Appl. No.:97,092

[72] Inventor:

52 us. Cl ..46/6 11 [451 May 30,1972

Primary Examinerbouis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerD. L. WeinholdAtt0rneyR0gers, Ezell, Eilers & Robbins [5 7] ABSTRACT A bubble pipe toyfor blowing bubbles. The bubble pipe is in the form of a tubular pipehaving an upstanding chimney over which a ring element in the form of anL-shaped wand is fitted. The wand may be integrally formed on the pipeor in a preferred form has a square end receivable within a sockethaving a square opening to provide registry of the ring over thechimney. The pipe further receives toy figurines, such as in the shapeof a locomotive or other toy, which is snapped or molded directly on thetubular pipe with the chimney fitting through the toy. The pipe issimply employed by dipping the ring element of the wand into a soapysolution and blowing through the pipe with air expelled through thechimney and forming bubbles from a soapy film over the ring element.

11 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures BUBBLE PIPE TOY SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn the past, various types of bubble pipe toys have been devised. Suchconventional bubble pipes employ simply a pipe, as in the nature of anormal smoking pipe, which is dipped into a soapy solution and bubblesare blown through the pipe. Other bubble toys employ a wand or ringelement dipped into soapy solution with bubbles being formed by blowingthe soapy film from the ring.

By means of the instant invention, there has been devised a simplebubble pipe made in the form of various supportable toy members whichcan be readily employed by the child of tender years. The toy provides afocus of interest and various types of figurines, as in the form of alocomotive, airplane, ball, and the like, can be utilized. The bubblepipe incorporates a tubular member open at one end and closed at theother with an open smoke-stack or chimney intermediate the ends. Asocket is provided so that an L-shaped wand having a ring element can befitted within the socket to provide the ring element in registry overthe open chimney. By making the socket of a characterized opening, suchas square or elliptical, and the end of the wand of a matingcharacterized configuration, the wand can be taken away from the bubblepipe or simply installed in immediate registration for use.

The operation of the bubble pipe toy is extremely simple in that, onceerected, the wand is simply dipped into a soapy solution and is readyfor use. Bubbles are blown by merely blowing through the open end of thepipe, with air being expelled through the chimney and through the filmover the ring element of the wand, to form bubbles. The bubbles risingfrom the pipe simulate the smoking action and when the toy figurine,such as a locomotive or other toy is employed, bubbles simulate smokefrom the smoke-stack of the locomotive or other toy figurines.

Various toy figurines can be employed as desired, such that the focus ofthe interest of the child can be maintained by ready interchangeability.Further, the bubble pipe is extremely simple to use by the incorporationof the registered wand over the chimney of the bubble pipe so thatbubbles can be formed with no difficulty. By nature of the construction,the bubble pipe and wand are rugged since they can conventionally bemade of plastic construction and are easy to use and inexpensive incost.

The above features are objects of this invention and further objectswill appear in the detailed description which follows and will beotherwise apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of illustration, there is shown the accompanyingdrawings, examples and modifications of my invention, It is to beunderstood that these examples are for the purpose of illustration onlyand the invention is not limited thereto.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view partly broken away of thebubble pipe, with the wand removed;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the bubble pipe;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in front elevation of a bubble P p FIG. 4 isa view in section, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the bubble wand;

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of the wand;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevation on a reduced scale of the bubble pipewith an attached fire engine toy shown partially in dotted lines for theinterior construction;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 99 FIG. 12 is anenlarged view in section taken on the line 12- 12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view on a reduced scale showing the bubble pipefitted with a further modified toy in the form of an airplane;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 14- 14 of FIG.13;

FIG. 15 is a view in section taken on the line l5l5 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view in side elevation on a reduced scale showing thebubble pipe with a further modified toy in the form of a ball fittingover an extension on the bubble pipe;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view in section on the line l7-l7 of FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The bubble pipe toy of this invention isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 20. It is comprised of themain components in the form of the pipe 22, best shown in FIGS. 1 to 4and an L-shaped wand 24 shown in FIGS. 5 through 7. It is adapted to beused with various types of toy figurines, such as the fire engine 26 ofFIG. 8, the locomotive 28 shown in FIG. 1 1, the toy airplane 30 in FIG.13, and the ball 32 of FIG. 16.

The pipe 22 is comprised of a tapered, tubular member 34 having an openend 36 which is larger than the closed end 38. An upstanding chimney 40is provided adjacent the closed end. A wand receiving socket 42 isconnected to the closed end 38 and has a socket 44 open at the top andclosed at the bottom of a characterized cross-section, such as thesquare cross-section shown in FIGS. 1-4.

The wand 24, best shown in FIGS. 5-7 is of an L-shaped configuration,comprised of the L-shaped body 46. The end 48 which is adapted to bereceived within the socket has a square cross-section that fits withinthe socket in mating and registering relation to present the ring-likeelement 50 connected at the other end of the wand over the chimney 40.

The bubble pipe toy is shown in FIG. 8 provided with a toy figurine inthe form of the fire engine 26. The engine is hollow and made of plasticmaterial, semi-rigid but with a slight degree of flexibility. It has ashell-like body 51 which is open at the bottom 52. The front 54 and therear 56 are each provided with a semi-circular recess 58 with aprotruding flange portion 60, such that the body 51 of the fire enginecan simply be snapped on the pipe 34 over the recess 58 with the flange60 being deformed in the connecting operation and then holding the bodyof the fire engine because of the resilient hugging nature of the flange60. The fire engine body is further provided with an opening 62 whichfits in registry over the chimney 40 of the bubble pipe such that aircan be expelled through the pipe chimney and opening 62 to the ring-likeelement 50 of the wand 24 in the bubble forming operation.

A further modified toy is shown in FIGS. 11-12 where a locomotive 26 isprovided. The construction of the toy figu rine locomotive 26 is similarto that of the fire engine in that the hollow body 66 is provided withthe cut out recesses in the ends to which similar reference numerals aregiven. A smokestack 68 is provided upon the body, which opens into theinterior of the locomotive. The smoke-stack is open at the top and fitsconcentrically over the chimney 40 of the pipe in the relationship shownin FIGS. 11-12. By this construction, the air can be expelled throughthe pipe, the chimney of the pipe and the smoke-stack of the locomotiveto the ring element 50 of the wand to form bubbles.

Another modified toy figurine is shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 in theform of an airplane body 30. In this embodiment, the airplane has ahollow body 72 which rests on top of the pipe. The body is provided withan opening 74 which fits in frictional engagement about the chimney 40of the pipe so as to hold the airplane on the top of the tubular member34 of the bubble pipe.

A still further modified form of figurine is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 inthe form of the hollow ball figurine 32. In this embodiment the ballfigurine hollow body 78 is provided with a depending tubular extensionor collar 80 having a pair of U- shaped grooves or recesses 82 such thatthe ball can be fitted over the bubble pipe in the relationship shown inFIGS. 16 and 17. The figurine body 78 has a circular opening 84 at thetop which receives a support tube 86 fitting over the chimney andthrough the ball figurine. Thus, the extension tube 86 serves both as asupport and passage for the air through the opening 84. It will beunderstood that the ball figurine 32 may be made in the form of a heador any other conventional toy shape.

The bubble pipe of this invention is adapted for simple employment andfor use need only the connection of the wand 24 to the tubular pipe 22.This is simply effected by inserting the square end 48 of the wand intothe square shaped opening 44 of the pipe in the relationship shown bythe dotted lines in FIG. 4. Because of the square cross-section, thewand is presented with the ring element 50 directly over the chimney 40of the pipe. The pipe is then ready for use.

In the employment of the basic pipe, the user simply dips the ringelement 50 into the conventional soapy solution used in blowing bubbles.The dipping of the ring into the soapy solution forms a film across theopening of the ring and to form bubbles, the user simply blows into theenlarged open end 36 of the pipe. Because of the constricted nature ofthe pipe and the tapering towards the chimney, a concentration of forceis provided through the chimney which is restricted in size to expel airtoward the open ring element. As the air strikes the soapy film held inthe ring by the normal surface tension of the soapy solution, bubblesare blown upwardly and the pipe has the appearance of an Indian peacepipe with simulated smoke formed by the bubbles. For blowing additionalbubbles, the operation is repeated with the ring 50 of the wand beingdipped again into the soapy solution for further bubble blowing.

The various forms of the modified toy figurines shown in FIGS. 8 through16 are adapted for ready interchangeability. Thus, the fire engine 26 ofFIG. 8 can simply be snapped on the tubular body 34 of the pipe in therelation shown. This operation takes only a matter of seconds, with theopen recesses 58 of the body being snapped over the tubular pipe body34, in the relationship shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The opening 62 in thebody is presented over the chimney 40 of the pipe and bubbles are blownin the same fashion as previously described.

When the figurine in the form of a locomotive is desired to be used, theassembly operation is effected in the same manner as described for thefire engine 26 of FIG. 8. Thus the locomotive body 51 is simply snappedover the tapered body 34 of the pipe in the relationship shown in FIG.12. In this assembly the open smoke-stack 68 of the locomotive fits overthe chimney of the pipe and the registration of the smokestack under thering of the wand provides simulated smoke emanating from the locomotivessmoke-stack as bubbles are blown upwardly from the wand. Thisrelationship is shown in FIG. 11.

The assembly of the airplane 30 shown in FIGS. 13-15 is effected bysimply placing the opening 74 of the airplane body over the chimney 40of the bubble pipe. This relationship is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 andbecause of the resiliency of the plastic body of the airplane, theairplane is firmly held on to the top of the bubble pipe by thefrictional interfitting of the chimney into the opening-74 of theairplane body.

The modification of FIGS. 16-17 is likewise simply installed. In thismodification, the extension tube 86 is fitted over the chimney of thebubble pipe and then the figurine 32 is fitted over the pipe with theopening 84 fitting over the tubular extension. Then, by the U-shapedgrooves 82, the ball figurine rests on the tubular body 34 and thefitting of extension 86 through the top opening in the ball, furtherprovides support for the figurine. Where the figurine takes the form ofa head, the blowing of bubbles through the head figurine simulates smokecoming from the top of the head and the figurine blowing its top."

Various changes and modifications may be made within this invention aswill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes andmodifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention asdefined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A bubble pipe comprising an elongated tubular member having opposedopen and closed ends, a chimney member opening into the interior of thetubular member adjacent the closed end and extending perpendicularlyfrom the tubular member and an L-shaped bubble wand, said wand having aring element fitting in registry over said chimney.

2. The bubble pipe of claim 1 in which the wand is supported in a socketat the closed end of the tubular member receiving an end of the L-shapedwand.

3. The bubble pipe of claim 2 in which the socket has a characterizedopening and the wand has an end having a characterized cross-sectionmating with the socket opening to provide the registration of the wandring element over said chimney.

4. The bubble pipe of claim 2 in which the tubular member tapers fromthe open end to the closed end.

5. The bubble pipe of claim 3 in which the socket means is in the formof a sleeve at the closed end of the pipe which is open at a top side ofthe pipe to receive the characterized end of the wand.

6. The bubble pipe of claim 1 in which a toy figurine is supported uponsaid tubular member, said figurine having a hollow body open at thebottom, means on said body for attaching the body'to the pipe and anopening in the top of the figurine in registry with said chimney.

7. The bubble pipe of claim 6 in which the figurine body has at leastone end wall provided with a substantially semi-circular slot meansadapted to frictionally clamp upon the tubular body of the pipe.

8. The bubble pipe of claim 7 in which the figurine body is in the formof a steam locomotive having an open topped smoke-stack fittingconcentrically over the pipe chimney.

9. The bubble pipe of claim 6 in which the figurine body is adapted torest upon the top of the tubular member and has a top wall provided withan opening adapted to fit over and frictionally engage the sides of thepipe chimney.

10. The bubble pipe of claim 6 in which the figurine body has a globularshape and is provided with a top opening adapted to frictionally receivea tubular extension member connected to said chimney.

11. A bubble forming toy comprising an elongated tubular member havingan air blowing inlet opening and an air outlet opening into the side ofthe tubular member adjacent a closed end of the tubular member anL-shaped bubble wand supported by the tubular member, said wand having aclosed ring element fitting in registry over the air outlet opening.

1. A bubble pipe comprising an elongated tubular member having opposedopen and closed ends, a chimney member opening into the interior of thetubular member adjacent the closed end and extending perpendicularlyfrom the tubular member and an L-shaped bubble wand, said wand having aring element fitting in registry over said chimney.
 2. The bubble pipeof claim 1 in which the wand is supported in a socket at the closed endof the tubular member receiving an end of the L-shaped wand.
 3. Thebubble pipe of claim 2 in which the socket has a characterized openingand the wand has an end having a characterized cross-section mating withthe socket opening to provide the registration of the wand ring elementover said chimney.
 4. The bubble pipe of claim 2 in which the tubularmember tapers from the open end to the closed end.
 5. The bubble pipe ofclaim 3 in which the socket means is in the form of a sleeve at theclosed end of the pipe which is open at a top side of the pipe toreceive the characterized end of the wand.
 6. The bubble pipe of claim 1in which a toy figurine is supported upon said tubular member, saidfigurine having a hollow body open at the bottom, means on said body forattaching the body to the pipe and an opening in the top of the figurinein registry with said chimney.
 7. The bubble pipe of claim 6 in whichthe figurine body has at least one end wall provided with asubstantially semi-circular slot means adapted to frictionally clampupon the tubular body of the pipe.
 8. The bubble pipe of claim 7 inwhich the figurine body is in the form of a steam locomotive having anopen topped smoke-stack fitting concentrically over the pipe chimney. 9.The bubble pipe of claim 6 in which the figurine body is adapted to restupon the top of the tubular member and has a top wall provided with anopening adapted to fit over and frictionally engage the sides of thepipe chimney.
 10. The bubble pipe of claim 6 in which the figurine bodyhas a globular shape and is provided with a top opening adapted tofrictionally receive a tubular extension member connected to saidchimney.
 11. A bubble forming toy comprising an elongated tubular memberhaving an air blowing inlet opening and an air outlet opening into theside of the tubular member adjacent a closed end of the tubular memberan L-shaPed bubble wand supported by the tubular member, said wandhaving a closed ring element fitting in registry over the air outletopening.